1

Under the Water South Fork Little Wind River

Last month, the Wyoming Game and Fish

Department conducted fisheries surveys over a nine-day period in the South Fork Little Wind River drainage in the Wind River Mountains. The South Fork Little Wind River drainage can be accessed using the Bears Ears Trailhead out of Dickinson Park in the Shoshone National Forest. The fisheries surveys were for the collection of genetic samples to help with native Yellowstone cutthroat trout conservation and to evaluate sport fisheries, particularly those that are helicopter-stocked. Cutthroat trout genetic samples were collected from the South Fork Little Wind River and the Baptiste and Grave creek drainages to determine their source (native Yellowstone cutthroat trout or an introduced non-native species) and genetic

purity. Genetic analysis is necessary because widespread stocking of many trout species (including other non-native cutthroat trout species) occurred throughout the Wind River Mountains beginning in the early 1900s, with no or imprecise records kept prior to the 1940s. Additionally, hybridization of native Yellowstone cutthroat trout and introduced nonnative trout likely occurred in many waters. Genetic sample collection is a simple, nonlethal method in which a small fin clip (about the size of a pinky fingernail) is taken from the fish before it is released. The samples collected during this trip are part of a cooperative range-wide project among Yellowstone cutthroat trout biologists in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. The results of the genetic analyses will enable the Game and Fish and other Yellowstone cutthroat trout-managing agencies to prioritize

October 2017October 2017

Inside

On the Ground………..3

With the Public…….....3

Into the Access.……...4

Creating the Habitat....4

In the Field…………....5

Wild brown trout captured at Loch Leven Lake.

2

conservation populations and determine which populations should be used for future restoration and range-expansion projects. The South Fork Little Wind River drainage offers some of the most diverse sport fishing opportunities within the Wind River Mountain Range. Lake trout, brook trout, brown trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, Snake River cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, golden trout, and various cutthroat-rainbow-golden trout hybrids can be caught throughout the drainage. Seven lakes were sampled during the 2017 survey. Baptiste, Grave, and Washakie lakes are wild fisheries, whereas Helmet, Holster, and Upper Valentine lakes are managed through helicopter stocking. Loch Leven Lake is helicopter-stocked with rainbow trout, but also has naturally-reproducing brown trout, which were first stocked by mountaineer and forester, Finis Mitchell in 1932. See the table below for the 2017 sampling results for each lake.

At left: Fisheries Technician Jake Werner setting a net on Loch Leven Lake. Above: Cutthroat trout display various spotting and color patterns in the South Fork Little Wind River drainage. Genetic analyses will de-termine their original source and genetic purity.

*Upper Valentine Lake is usually stocked with Golden Trout, but Snake River Cutthroat Trout were stocked in 2016. Golden Trout stocking will resume in 2018.

Lake Species # Fish Length Range (inches)

Baptiste Lake Snake River Cutthroat Trout 3 16.0 – 18.0

Grave Lake Lake Trout 35 7.1 – 25.1

Snake River Cutthroat Trout 4 8.8 – 12.4

Washakie Lake Brook Trout 9 6.1 – 14.4

Loch Leven Lake Rainbow Trout 30 6.2 – 16.8

Brown Trout 2 17.4 – 17.7

Helmet Lake Snake River Cutthroat Trout 6 10.0 – 14.8

Holster Lake Snake River Cutthroat Trout 29 6.1 – 16.6

*Upper Valentine Lake Brook Trout 1 9.5

Snake River Cutthroat Trout 19 5.9 – 8.8

3

On the Ground Water Project

Richard Klouda, a past Game and Fish

Commissioner whose term ended earlier this year, was honored with a dedication of a Water for Wildlife stream protection project in his name. The project is located north of Rawlins on the Stone Ranch and was funded with participation from Water for Wildlife and the One Shot Antelope Hunt. Richard Klouda attended the dedication with some family and friends. Richard (on the left in the picture) was an outstanding Commissioner and he will be missed.

With the Public Lander Rocks

Game Warden Brady Frude has been hiding rocks around his

warden district to support a local Facebook group called “Lander Rocks” while generating interest in what the Game and Fish Department does. The Game and Fish rocks are prize rocks, meaning the lucky finder can bring them into the Lander regional office to claim a prize. Three, twenty dollar prizes will be given for those that find the shield rock and three goodie bags will be given to those that find the

GF26 rock. We had our first lucky rock hunter, Anika Maestas of Lander, who found the shield rock in September hidden along the nature trail in Sinks Canyon State Park. Both rocks are still out there somewhere and waiting for the next rock hunter to find them.

Far left: Lander Rocks. Above: Anika Maestas with her find and her new hat.

4

Into the Access New Hunter Management Area

Antelope hunt area 63 gained a new Hunter Management Area (HMA)

this fall thanks to an agreement with the Sweetwater River Conservancy and the Game and Fish Department’s Access Yes program. The brand new Lower Sweetwater HMA is valid for walk-in antelope hunting only and includes access for all area 63 antelope license types. Many hunters have already taken advantage of the program to hunt antelope in the northern portion of the hunt area and have enjoyed having the opportunity to pursue antelope on these private lands. If you would like to get a permission slip to hunt on the HMA, there are an unlimited number available, and you can apply and print one for yourself by accessing the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s website at https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Public-Access/Hunter-Management-Areas.

Creating the Habitat A Little Help from the Beavers

Two beavers that were considered a nuisance were relocated last

month to landowners who wanted their help improving habitat. The first was trapped by Aquatic Habitat Biologist Betsy Morgan and Fisheries Biologist Joe Deromedi at Lake Cameahwait. The beaver had been damming the outlet screen and preventing the lake from draining to winter levels. In addition, the improperly functioning fish

screen increases the risk of grass carp flowing over the screen and through a half-mile-long culvert into Muddy Creek, which ultimately drains into Boysen Reservoir. This beaver was caught using a snare and was relocated to an area of Pass Creek where cabin residents wanted to reintroduce beaver. Regional Supervisor Jason Hunter worked with a landowner in a neighborhood outside of Lander to move a second beaver causing damage. This beaver was also trapped using a snare and relocated to the Nature Conservancy’s Red Canyon property, where they too have been wanting to reintroduce beaver.

Above: Beaver in snare on Lake Cameahwait. Below: Beaver being released into Red Canyon.

5

In the Field Pictures from the Field

Zachary Weston with his first elk and pronghorn on the same day!

Blayne Coleman with a beautiful Green Mountain buck.

Game Warden Linnea Sailor and her first pronghorn buck.

Ethan Rognon with a nice deer. He had to pack it out too.

Matt Wilson with a nice Green Mountain bull.

Nichole Worthing proudly displays her pronghorn buck